New water board to decide on how to fund project

Monday, Nov. 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

In January, the board considering how to pay for a $1.7 billion expansion of the Southern Nevada Water System will have a new look.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority board will get three new members at year's end. Its chairman, County Commissioner Paul Christensen, will be among those replaced.

"We don't even know what the new SNWA board will look like," water authority spokesman Larry Brown said.

As a result, SNWA General Manager Pat Mulroy has decided to wait until the change to introduce funding schemes for the expanded distribution and treatment system to bring Colorado River water to Las Vegas.

The SNWA board accepted funding recommendations last week from a citizens advisory committee, but the new board will have the final say on the funding proposals.

Besides Christensen, North Las Vegas and Clark County will have to appoint new representatives. North Las Vegas representative Mary Kincaid was elected a county commissioner and County Commissioner Jay Bingham has resigned.

That leaves County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, Henderson Mayor Bob Groesbeck, Boulder City Mayor Erik Lundgaard and Las Vegas Councilman Arnie Adamsen -- if the county and cities reappoint them.

The Integrated Resource Advisory Committee, a 21-member panel of citizens, developers, environmentalists and others, recommended to the old board last week to seek a quarter-cent sales tax increase and increased regional surcharges.

The sales tax hike would spread the cost evenly and include tourists, Brown said.

If the 1997 state Legislature doesn't approve the proposed sales tax with a two-thirds majority, the SNWA board will have to rely on connection fees, reliability charges and federal funds, Brown said.

And getting federal dollars for anything these days is practically impossible, Brown said.